The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/111015
������ michigan in the pros much better in the first 10 games of the shortened 2012-13 season, either, lighting the lamp only once. He seems to have regained his form, though. Hagelin scored two goals in a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay Feb. 10 and also notched a goal in each of his next three games. The Rangers went 3-0-1 in that span. ���He���s a big player for us,��� head coach John Tortorella told the New York Post after moving Hagelin on a line with left wing Rick Nash and center Derek Stepan Feb. 7. ���He creates a lot of havoc, ends up with a lot of puck control. He���s beginning to play [well] defensively. He���s a big piece, and he���s helped that line tremendously.��� Just as that line has helped Hagelin. ���It���s more playing well that builds up confidence for me,��� he said. ���When you feel good and continue on playing well, goals are going to come. [Nash] is one of the best players in the world, so it���s always going to help. He���s so strong on the puck, you can see how other teams have so much respect for him, and then he can make plays. ���If someone else is getting more and more attention, you���re open more often, and he makes good passes. He���s one of the few guys who can beat his man one-on-one most of the time. Not many players can do that. You can just hide a bit on the ice and try to disappear, and when he makes that move, [the defense] supposed to be on me goes over to him and I���m wide open.��� Mike Knuble Inks One-Year Deal, Returns To Philadelphia A tryout with the Detroit Red Wings resulted in a minor league stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins for former Michigan icer Mike Knuble. The story ended happily, however, when the Philadelphia Flyers ��� the franchise with which Knuble has enjoyed most of his NHL success ��� signed the forward to a oneyear deal following an injury to wing Scott Hartnell. Knuble spent the last few seasons in Washington, but was relegated to the fourth line much of last year when he played at all. ���In Washington I was in a certain role for a long time, and then it switched a lot. That was pretty hard to take,��� Knuble told the Washington Times. ���You come into a team, you know what your role is there, and you���re hoping that you do the best you can when you���re playing with it.��� Knuble, now 40, isn���t certain what his long-term role with the club. He���s just trying to make the most of his current situation. ���I think as a player now you���ve got to be ready for anything,��� he said. ���I think I truly am ready for anything, whether it���s a few minutes or substantial minutes, some penalty killing, some power play, no penalty killing, no power play. If it���s just regular shifts, you���ve got to be ready for everything. I think I am at that point where I am.���